Akhtar, Malik included in Asia Cup squad

LAHORE: Pakistan’s controversial fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar is set to make his international comeback after he, and former captain Shoaib Malik who had his year-long ban lifted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), were named in the 15-man squad for the Asia Cup announced yesterday.

Also included in the squad was opener Imran Farhat while fast-bowler Umar Gul, who missed the 2010 World Twenty20, opted out of the tournament due to lack of fitness and former captain Younus Khan was overlooked.

“Akhtar and Malik passed their fitness tests have been included in the 15-man squad,” said PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt.

England break Bangladesh resolve in first Test

Steve Finn was the pick of England’s attack as they ran through Bangladesh on a rain-hit third day of the first Test that saw only 28.5 overs bowled.

Play finally began at 1520 BST after a morning of drizzle and Bangladesh lost five quick wickets as they slumped from their overnight 172-2 to 237-7.

Finn had Junaid Siddique caught behind and trapped Mohammad Ashraful lbw while James Anderson also took two wickets.

Mushfiqur Rahim was then bowled by Finn after tea before bad light intervened.

Shoaib Malik’s one-year ban lifted

Shoaib Malik’s appeal against the punishment handed out to him by the PCB earlier this year has been “partially accepted” by an independent arbitration tribunal, which has overturned his one-year ban and halved his Rs 2 million fine.

“His appeal has been partially accepted,” the PCB’s legal advocate Talib Rizvi told Cricinfo. “The ban has been lifted and his fine has been halved. The board has the right to review the decision but as of now he is eligible to play for Pakistan again.”

Younus free to play despite hearing

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) further cleared the way for former Pakistan captain Younus Khan’s international comeback by saying that he is free to represent Pakistan despite the ongoing appeal hearing.

“Younus was not banned but merely not considered for selection so he can make his comeback at the discretion of the PCB whenever the chairman wants,” PCB’s lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi told The Express Tribune. “There is an ongoing hearing but since there was no ban involved, I’m not sure what charges the lawyers are contesting.”

Governing Board against Ijaz Butt

LAHORE: The head of the National Assembly (NA) Committee on Sports Iqbal Muhammad Ali has revealed internal strife in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with several Governing Board (GB) members not in favour of the chairman Ijaz Butt.

While the GB, according to PCB Chief Operating Officer Wasim Bari, was completely supportive of the chairman despite continuous criticism and the wave of u-turns the PCB has taken with him at the helm, Ali confirmed things were different behind the chairman’s back.

Afridi to impose dressing room discipline

KARACHI: Pakistan’s newly-appointed Test and One-Day International (ODI) captain Shahid Afridi has vowed to impose strict discipline in the dressing room in order to avoid the recurrence of the unwanted incidents that took place during Pakistan’s tour of Australia at the end of last year.

“I know some players, who were involved in breaching the code of conduct on the last tour, may return but this is their last chance to revive their career,” Afridi told The Express Tribune while dispelling the impression that, with the return of former captains